Island



2 Sheets-Shed; 1..

' (Nd Model.)

J. H. GRAHAM.

7 CAR TRUCK Patented Aug. 8,, 1893;

(No Model.)

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H. GRAHAM UAR TRUCK Patented Aug. 8,1893.

UNITED STAT PATENT O ICE.

JOHN H. GRAHAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CON- SOLIDATEDRAILWAY SUPPLY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE, AND OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

- CAR-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 503,044, dated August8, 1893.

Application filed February 6, 1893. Serial No. 461,279. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. GRAHAM, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cars, of which the following is a descriptionsufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in theart or science to which said invention appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of'my improvedstreet-car truck; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 a sideelevation enlarged showing the pedestal and method of mounting the truckframe on the axles; Fig. 4 an edge elevation of the same; Fig. 5 a frontelevation of one of the arch-bars; Fig, 6 elevation showing the arch-barlocking mechanism; Fig. 7 an end elevation of the castings connectingthe frame and car-body; and Fig. 8 a side elevation of the pivot-block.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to improvements in trucks forelectrically propelled street-cars, and a brake-mechanism therefor; andit consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth andclaimed, the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper and moreefiective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understoodby all conversant with such matters from the following explanation: l

In the drawings, A represents the car-axles supported on wheels, B, andbearing journalboxes, 0, in the ordinary manner.

The truck-frame, D, is approximately rectangular and comprises a flatmetallic-bar.

nally of the pedestal in which the frame, D,

rests and is secured bybolts, h. The pedestal is provided centrally witha transverse opening through which the journal-boxes, O, project.

Mounted centrally in a suitable clamp, j, secured on the top of thejournal boxes between the side-plates, b, of the pedestal there is ahalf-elliptical spring, 7e, curved vertically upward and containing asmany leaves as will afford sufficient rigidity for the purposeshereinafter described. At each end the side-plates, b, of the pedestalare connected by a'cuppedpiece, m, disposed vertically under the ends ofthe spring, lo, and provided with a central opening, 10, shown in'Fig.3. A T-rod, q, is passed through said opening and through the end of thespringJo. On the lower ends of saidrods and supported by their headsthere are cups, 4". Resting in said cups and butting in the rigid cup,m, there are spirally-coiled springs, 25, of like tension in relation tothe semi-elliptical spring.

The weight of the car-body on the truckframe, D, forcing the pedestalsdownward is cushioned by the coiled springsyt. As the load on the carincreases these springs still serve to cushion it until their limit isreached when the downward pull on the T-rods, q, for any furtherincrease of the load, is supported by the semi-elliptical springs, it.By this arrangement of parts and springs, all variations in the load onthe car are cushioned eifecting a result not attainable by thecoiled-springs in ordinary use which are of necessity so wound to resistthe maximum load on the car 8 pivot-blocks, said blocks engaging withinsaid 9 castings and forming the bearing-points of the car-body on thetruck-frame. Bolts, 2, passing through the sides of the casting and theopening, 00, of the pivot-block head, secure the same together.

The motor, M, of which one or more may be employed in the ordinary wayis supported from the axle, A, at one side and an arch bar, 15,connecting the side-bars of the truck frame, D. elevation in Fig. 5,pass through locks, 16, which are provided on their upper faces with agroove, 17, of size suitable to receive the side -bars of the frame.Flush with said groove the blocks, 16, are provided with laterallyprojecting flanges, 18. A dovetailed cap or locking block, 19, (see Fig.6) receives the flanged heads of the blocks, 16, looking the frametherein. One of these arch-bars, 15, is employed for each motor. Theblocks, 19, are held by bolts, 20, (see Fig. 2).

A brake-mechanism for the truck comprises a rock-bar, 21, supported andfitted. to rotate in brackets, 22, bolted to the frame, D, between thearch-bars. lock-bar as may be deemed preferable there are two cranks orlevers, 23, fitted to swing vertically. A chain, 24, connects each crankor lever by an end with the ordinary brakestaif. The opposite end ofsaid levers, 23,

are connected by rods, 25, with the brakebeam, 26, hung from thetruck-frame in the ordinary manner. By this arrangement as thebrake-staffs are actuated at their end of the car both brake-beams ofthe truck are operated simultaneously in manner which will be readilyunderstood by all conversant with such matters without a more explicitdescription.

I do not confine myself to the use of coiled springs, t, as any form ofspring of less tension than the semi-elliptical spring may besubstituted therefor without departing from the spirit of my invention,the primary feature of which consists in so grading the springssupporting the car-body that the variations in the load may becompensated for.

springs of less resistance than the semiellip-j tical spring supportedtherefrom and a pedestal supported by said springs.

2. In a car-truck a semi-elliptical spring supported on an axle-box incombination with coiled springs supported from the ends there-, of and apedestal supported by said coiled;

springs, substantially as described.

The ends of the arch-bar, shown in Fast or loose on said 8. In acar-truck the combination of a framesupporting pedestal; asemi-elliptical spring mounted 011 the car-axle; rods pendent from theends of said spring; coiled springs supported by said rods and carryingsaid pedestal.

4:- In a car-truck, the combination'with the semi-elliptical springsecured to the axle-box, of the T-rods pendent therefrom, the coiledsprings supported on said rods and the pedestal supported by saidsprings.

5. The pedestal, H, flanged to receive the truck-frame in combinationwith the semielliptical spring, 70, supported on an axle-box; rodspendent from the ends of said spring; coiled springs mounted on saidrods and supporting said pedestal.

6. The combination with the wheels, axle and journal-boxes of aninverted semi-elliptical spring supported on said boxes, coiledspringssupported from the ends of said semielliptical spring and the pedestal,H, bearing on said coiled springs and supporting the truck-frame.

7. In a car-truck, the pedestal, H, provided with the groove, 9, incombination with the frame, D, secured in said groove; thesemielliptical springs, 70, mounted centrally on an axle-box; the rods,q, pendent from the ends of said springs and the coiled-sprin gs mountedon said rods and supporting said pedestal substantially as described.

8. In a car-truck, an electric-motor connected with an axle of saidtruck; flanged locks grooved to receive the truck frame; dovetailedblocks for locking said frame therein and an arch-bar mounted in saidflanged-box and supporting said motor.

9. In a car-truck, the combination with the frame of the flanged blocks,16; the dovetailed blocks, 19,for locking said frame therein and thearch-bar, 15, supported in said block, 16, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth. Having thus explained my invention, what 10. Thecombination with a ear-body of a truck-frame; vertically curvedpivot-blocks on said frame and bearings for said blocks on the car-body.

11. The combination with a car-body of a truck; the pivotblocks, v, onthe frame of said truck; the castings, g on said car forming steps forsaid blocks and secured thereto.

JOHN II. GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

K. DURFEE, O. M. SHAW.

